ClearlyFabulous

I always love that Independence Day is really all about freedom.  And I truly believe that freedom is fabulous.  A lot of things have been happening in our country lately to make me question just how free we are…

NYC proposing to limit soft drinks to 16 oz?

States requiring all voters to have tons of identification just to register to vote?  (Disproportionately impacts the lower classes)

The State of Georgia requiring folks to take drug tests to get food stamps?

I’m just starting to wonder how long the alleged freedom we have will actually last?  I guess the good thing is that today is all about a lot of fun things too:

Fireworks

Barbeque

Red, white and blue wardrobing

I’ve started the day with a workout, watermelon and Bud Light.  And I’m looking forward to a burger, italian sausage, more watermelon and more cocktails. 

I hope that you all have a fantastic day planned.  And I can’t sign off without thanking ever single American that has served in the military to make it so that I can sit here and contemplate freedom in the safety of this wonderful land.  I am truly grateful.  YOU make me proud to be American.

So I asked you earlier this year a key question in a blog post:  Fuchsia Baywater Mulberry vs. Tobacco Gucci Boston Bag.  You will be (perhaps) shocked to know that when it came time to spend the $1400 that Jamison and I had budgeted for my birthday bag, I selected neither of these bags.  While in Vegas, I stopped by the Gucci store.  The Boston bag was so… regular.  Now I will admit the white one caught my eye but not more than this bad boy which I had spied walking past the YSL store over and over on our way through Crystals.

The large is pictured here.  Also the prices have increased since I bought my bag on April 1.  I paid $1650 for the oversized and the large was only $1550.  Yes, that is a bit over budget but I had some slack in the budget after paying off my credit cards earlier than anticipated.

You may also recall my obsession with the Michael Kors Red Sequin Grayson stemming from last December. I tried my hardest to track it down on discount in January and February to no avail.  I finally talked to Amy about how much I needed it.  She suggested I use my birthday money from family and friends to buy it.  I found it on eBay from a fab seller for $250.  I scooped it up happily.

I also found some fabulous electric blue straight cut, ankle skimming pants at TJ Maxx for $29.99 (similar to those pictured here but not as cropped.)  I cannot wait to wear them!  Now I still need some tangerine and yellow jeans before the spring trend dies.

I have made a sad decision that I cannot break out any of the birthday gifts until Monday April 30, but I can’t wait to rock them!  I made a conscious effort to also not make my birthday as big a deal as I usually would this year.  At first I was even going to WORK on my bday.  But now I’ve got a decent little plan for May 3 that sounds fun enough and maybe even a little exhausting:

• Gym
• Champagne
• Lunch at JCT Kitchen
• Braves game at 12:10 (assuming no rain)
• Cupcakes – I will write about this place when I find out the name LOL
• Happy Hour at TAP
• Dinner at South City Kitchen

So, I am not sure if you guys recall my heartache about the Gucci Vintage Web Medium Boston Bag being out of stock last year, but I was heartbroken.  Due to some unexpected costs, I wondered if getting a less expensive bag was actually the better option anyways.  So I moved on and got my first Rebecca Minkoff Mab Mini Bag (not the last, I can assure you – love the structure and internal components that this bag offers) for my birthday.

Well, after window shopping on Montaigne in Paris, my desire for the beloved bag re-emerged.  (Especially when considering that due to currency fluctuation and 12% VAT refund, the cost of designer bags in Paris was about 20% less.)  And look at what I found on gucci.com:

It’s back in tobacco.  It is available for pre-order right now and should ship by mid April, a few weeks before my May 3 birthday.  What to do?

Well, then Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere got me thinking.  Would it be better to get this fabulous Hot Fuchsia Mulberry Bayswater Satchel?  I love the color and decided to purge my old hot pink bag last fall.  It is also pricey ($1250) and a very classic bag.  I remember DYING for it when I was last in London in 2007.  And isn’t she beautiful?

I have no idea what I am going to do.  (Yes, I AM trying to figure out how I can possible get both this year LOL but not sure how.)  I am curious to hear what you think?  Which bag should be this year’s “Happy Birthday to Me” gift?

I am not a resolution kind of girl, but I have laid out a few great ground rules for this year.  I am hoping you can keep me honest and on track.  (I often struggle with accountability.)  So here goes:

1. Better appreciate my husband
2. Stay skinny (AKA stay focused on healthy eating and regular exercise)
3. Continue to focus less on acquiring things

Honorable mention:  Pay off all credit card debt by summer, which I initially completed last spring but suffered a hiccup when my dad died.

I can feel that it is going to be a great year.  Hello – I leave for Paris in less than 3 weeks!  What a great way to get 2012 popping.

I am going to admit it.  I was feeling a little grouchy this year about Christmas.  Each year, we drop about two mortgage payments on Christmas gifts for our friends, family and of course, ourselves.  And I kept finding myself feeling super cheated when it was all over.  I know that you do not give in order to receive… BUT when you give thousands of dollars, you expect to get a FEW awesome things, you know?

So this year I was very open about all the things I wanted.  And I purposefully mostly posted affordable items for my friends and family to purchase.  That means that some things I really want, like a new chandelier, large hide rug, food processor and another pair of Louis Ghost Chairs didn’t even make the LIST – at least not the public list.

And I think my strategy was super effective.  Here is what I scored:

Olive Wedge Hunter Boots – to be stylishly dry in rainy Southern winter weather.  Thanks, Britt!

Benefit Cha Cha Tint (OMG I got two, I will exchange one for Clarisonic deep pore cleansing brush set)

YSL Touche Eclat in Light Peach – thank goodness, I JUST ran out five days before Christmas

Grey and Burgundy turtlenecks; Black pashmina - b/c I am the kinda girl who has them in every color except any neutral color.  Thanks, Amy. - not pictured

Z Gallerie Small Deer Heads – FINALLY!!!  For the dining room!

Z Gallerie Gelato Trays in Mango and Black – cuz I am quite the tray collector

Johnnie Walker Black 1.75L – courtesy of my fave Shabazz family

Nars Orgasm Blush – who knew I could love such a subtle cheek color?

???Amy Lotion and Body wash??? – I am certain she picked it purely for the packaging, which is super sexy!

Gucci Guilty Intense – I was planning to score it at the duty-free shops, but Jo’ie surprised me with it.

Laphroaig 10 Years Old Scotch - I scored THREE bottles of this for Christmas.  Am I a lush or what?

Hello Kitty Beverage Dispenser – for making signature cocktails at parties

Charter Club Red Rhinestone Jewelry Set – this is just the little pop I need with solid cocktail dresses

Bloomingdale’s Gift Card – nothing like the gift of shopping

Macy’s Gift Card – another gift of shopping.  My life rocks.

TLC Crazy Sexy Cool – because my husband knows I’ve never owned it though I love it.

So now, all those Christmas gifts I so carefully selected feel much less unrequited.  And I can honestly say that my people were very pleased with their gifts too.  Though my favorite Christmas memory came courtesy of Isis, my favorite 2.5 year old.  We presented her with her Harajuku Mini ensemble and she promptly asked to change into it.  Then she tried to steal the $50 bill that we got for our favorite college student, Najja.  That is MY kinda girl!

And as for our gift to ourselves, check THIS out:

Moderustic Fireplace Burner with Fire Glass - I can’t wait to install now that we’ve taken the tree down.  Oh yeah, remote bi%che$.

Starting the day off mostly right:

With cinnamon rolls and French champagne (courtesy of Trader Joe’s Blanc de Blancs) while watching the parade, minus the gym – I woke up with raging pain in my lower back that took three applications of Ben Gay PM, a shower and two Aleve to kill

So, after my morning of champagne after a restless night, what is it that I am thankful for this year?

1. My loving husband Jamison, who probably hates loving (and pretending to love) all this fabulous $hit
2. My family.  Short one loving dad AKA Tony, who was gone too soon and kind of haunted me in the early morning after watching Piney being cremated on “Sons of Anarchy” last night.  I miss you.  I love you.  Jealous that everyone else will be having fun and eating mi mamita’s famous mac and cheese later!
3. Cooking turkey on Thanksgiving for nothing but leftovers LOL
4. Washing my face with my Clarisonic facial cleansing device (brilliant)
5. Lots of really, really good friends that mostly live too far away to eat turkey with on Thanksgiving (and some that are close but have alternate plans.)  I love you all.  Thanks for having my back.
6. My upcoming trip to Paris and *hopefully* Champagne
7. Spending time with my girl Jo’ie at Christmas and New Years
8. Being half drunk around noon and watching music videos until the food is done, I eat lunch and take a shower and start all over again
9. My health – for real – I am LUCKY to be healthy except for lots of costly and painful dentistry issues
10. My job, which I like and I like the people I do it with and the person I do it for and the company for which I work and I even make enough to continue to collect vintage… everything
11. “Tomorrow, tomorrow… I love you, tomorrow…”

Sorry for the accidental Blogcation, but those two weeks of Mardi Gras really got in the way of my blogging.  At least it was delicious:

Double order of beignets and cafe au au lait at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans… YUM!

I am really pleased with my Christmas Loot this year.  I really racked up!  Check it out:

Cost Plus World Market Glass Beverage Dispenser - Jamison’s stepdad pulled my name in the gift exchange and I got this dispenser along with some Margarita Mix.  Think he was trying to hint that he wants to come over for Mexican and margaritas?  Much like Maegan’s three-tier Z Gallerie version that I’ve been coveting.

Casio watch (similar to pictured) – This thing is so sick.  It calculates your calorie burn and you can set a goal (e.g. run 10 miles) and it tracks your progress against your goal.  For now, it only tells the time.  I will play with it… soon.

Mother of pearl capiz shell clutch – Jamison’s Granny pulled my name in the gift exchange at Jamison’s dad’s house.  I LOVE this capiz shell clutch that I surely will be rocking for Mardi Gras.

Louis Ghost Chairs – My mom and sisters got me a pair of Louis Ghost Chairs for Christmas.  Once we paint the dining room, I promise to share actual photos instead of these from Lexington Modern.

“Diva Fou-Fou” Hat – My Aunt Sharon bequeathed this to me as soon as I walked into my Ganny’s wearing one of my many sequined berets.  It’s too hot in San Diego for her to wear this, so I plan to rock it a lot so she doesn’t miss it too much.

Amy and I had our gift exchange (with brunch AKA cocktails) on Sunday afternoon.  I always look forward to knowing I’ll get great gifts.

Tiger print sequined Converse All Star (AKA Chucks) sneakers

Lamas Beauty Spa Sensuals Hand Cream & Hand Scrub – this stuff is so awesome.  I would always use it at Amy’s house, and now I have my own!  I am so happy to have some just for me.  Luckily, I got her some hand cream too.

Sonia Kashuk Rock Star Nail Polish – Since “Rock Star” is my favorite phrase and I love wild colored nail polish.

Silver beanie – Amy got me this super cute beanie and didn’t even know about my silver Nine West gloves with chain detail.

Assorted headbands and cute gold hoop earrings – all of these are from Charming Charlie (one of our fave stores)

Peace & Justice wall calendar (and a shot of some of the other presents like my black bow belt with rhinestone trim and Benefit All You Need in Gloss, Microsoft Office 2010 ) – cuz I am “politically opposed” to lots of things, not all of which are even political. (In fact most are not political but that does not stop me.  Ever. Exhibit A: my belief in boycotts.)

Amy also made me my favorite cookies in the whole wide world - her mother’s almond crescents.  (I forgot to take a photo, but they are both beautiful and tasty.)  We enjoyed some laughter and fun too.  Sunday was a good day.

I had a very Merry Christmas.  Thanks to all of my family and friends for the awesome gifts.  I will use all of them.  And soon.

This year I am spending a very low-key New Year’s Eve at home with Jamison due to our crazy holiday travel schedule.  But I am with all of you in spirit:

Of course we are toasting Cristalino… my fave cheap bubbly

Rocking my fabulous (albeit wrinkled as all get-out) silk kimono that Ben & Jory got me in Hong Kong on their honeymoon this summer

2010 has been good to me, and I look forward to 2011… with all of you.  Stay fabulous – clearly – my darlings.  See you in 2011!